“Our major mistakes have not been the result of democracy, but of the erosion of democracy made possible by the mass media’s manipulation of public opinion.”

Who is Mr. Cirino's "Our", as it concerns "major mistakes". In the blame game, there is a LOT! ! ! to go around. The occupying statist theocracy infesting this land uses patriarchal authority and benefits, ignorance and propaganda through sheeple's need for democracy, socialism, woke control dogmas, enslavement, etc., etc., etc. "The mass media's manipulation of public opinion" is simply an element of "democracy". By example: how often does the statist theocracy (with its ecclesiastical administrations — complete with black robed high priests / priestesses, seminaries (government schools), missionary MSM, etc.) promote individual sovereignty, personal inalienable rights, liberty, perfected allodium / absolute ownership or "the laws of nature and of nature's God" (Declaration of Independence)?

Democ, Mob Rule lends itself by far to emotional frenzy, which in turn lacks the commonsense to moderate its behavior. Resulting in overreaction to a given cause. As Mike points out, The Individual Sovereign bearing responsibility with all rights reserved seems to slip by the way. Governing power corrupts itself, when the Individual Sovereign is ignored !!

Criminals don't do democracy, only the law abiding do democracy.